ABSTRACT
Diabetes self-management education is performed by specially trained nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, and others to provide patients the skills, knowledge, and confidence to manage their own diabetes on a day-to-day basis through analysis of their lifestyle practices and blood glucose patterns to make informed decisions in their insulin doses or other therapy. Self-management education involves a continuum of services ranging from the teaching of survival skills to a comprehensive self-management program. Given the importance of self-management for the attainment of optimal glycemic control, it is recommended that specially trained licensed health-care professionals provide diabetes self-management education. Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs) must accrue 1000 hours in direct diabetes education and pass a certifying exam from the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators, with a recertifying exam every 5 years. Certification implies expertise in diabetes knowledge, skills, and the teaching of diabetes education based on national standards.
